Originally Posted by floweroscotland

Hi everyone,

sorry i haven't posted for a few weeks, it's hard to belive i actually have a life now, not like the uk where i spent hours on the comp, thought i should give you an update on life so far on the Gold Coast.

Well it's still fantastic and i wake up every morning to sunshine thinking how lucky i am to be in such a beautiful place! I don't have one regret about leaving the UK, my kids have settled amazing, my 6 year old is loving school, made some lovely friends and she can't belive that no one is horrible, i have found that kids here are much more polite and friendly than at home to other children and adults. Her school is great, they are so laid back, have lessons outside, eat outside, get to wear shorts and t-shirt as their uniform and in the 8 weeks since we have been here i can count on one hand how many times it has rained!!!! the weather is fantastic.

My youngest daughter is 4, she has settled brilliant at kindergarten, and her confidence has grown brilliantly since we arrived here. We have something to do every night of the week here, the parks are fantastic for the kids, all with bbq's, we have 4 major theme parks 10 mins from our house, the beach is 10 mins away their is no way you can ever be bored.

My hubby is a carpenter and there are loads of jobs for all trades, he had his pick of work, i am at college and really enjoying it, thought it was time i actually got myself a trade!

I can honestly say with hand on heart it is the best thing we could ever have done moving here, we have no regrets and their is nothing i don't like about living here, apart from the insects and of course the way the australians drive, which is quite frightening!!! There is nothing i miss about home apart from decent food and family.

The cost of living i have found is more or less the same as the uk, some things are cheaper and some more expensive, groceries are much the same prices, petrol is a lot cheaper, i fill the car for half the price that i paid at home, rent is cheaper, and we have no council tax as the landlord has to pay tax and rates. Dental and medical fees are expensive as you have to pay every time you see someone, not like NHS. Here you pay to see a doctor (around $45) then you pay for the prescription on top of that. The Gold Coast is spotlessly clean, you never see pot holes in the road or litter on the streets, they take so much care of their country. It's facinating to pick up the newspaper and the top stories are 2 cars got broken into, at home i would pick up the paper to read how many had been stabbed, beat up and murdered, it's just not like that here. You can walk along the beach at midnight here, a female on her own and actually feel safe, you see females out power walking on their own all the time at night, it's a great feeling to feel safe, i'm not saying it never happens here, but no where in the same league as the uk.

The most important thing is i know my kids are going to have the best life i could ever offer living in Australia, i have seen a massive change in them since coming here, they are up in the morning around 6, as the sun is shining, they hardly ever moan they way they did at home, they are happier, and they are getting outside to play every day in the sun.

Sure i have some homesick days, but then i think of what i'm actually missing, not the place but the people, i would never go back. I know i will have some tough times here too until we settle and actually think of Australia as our home, but i also know its going to be worth it, for my kids sake.

For anyone that is having doubts all i can say is go for it, it may work or it may not for you, but at least at the end of the day you have tried it, i think the thing that doesn't work for most people is the homesickness for family, and it is hard, but you cope and it gets easier. Especially when you are waking up every morning in a beautiful country with the sun shining and thinking how lucky you are to be there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lisa

Originally Posted by floweroscotland

God this brings back so many memories, I have now been on the Gold Coast 1 and a half years, and we still love it, it just keeps getting better. The life we have here just doesn't compare to the life we had, especially for my kids.

Good luck to everyone making the move, I don't have 1 regret, its the best thing I have ever done.

Love Lisa
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Originally Posted by soapy

hi lisa, i was looking at rentals up your way last night. i could rent 2, 4 bedroom houses for the price i pay here

Originally Posted by floweroscotland

Hi Soapy,

Yes I could totally believe that, the house we rent is owned by a couple from Sydney, and this is their investment property!!! oh how the other half live!!!

Lisa

Originally Posted by soapy

we thought of doing that too, but i think if we had bought up there we could never have settled in sydney with a house on the GC
wish we had now as we will be renting when we first arrive now

Originally Posted by floweroscotland

Are you moving to the GC, make sure you bring me some Tunnocks Teacakes lol, about 1 years supply should be good

Originally Posted by floweroscotland

God this brings back so many memories, I have now been on the Gold Coast 1 and a half years, and we still love it, it just keeps getting better. The life we have here just doesn't compare to the life we had, especially for my kids.

Good luck to everyone making the move, I don't have 1 regret, its the best thing I have ever done.

Love Lisa
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Originally Posted by cinderella

Even though it was 1.5 years ago, it is still a good read and .'. great post.

Originally Posted by floweroscotland

Hi everyone,

sorry i haven't posted for a few weeks, it's hard to belive i actually have a life now, not like the uk where i spent hours on the comp, thought i should give you an update on life so far on the Gold Coast.

Well it's still fantastic and i wake up every morning to sunshine thinking how lucky i am to be in such a beautiful place! I don't have one regret about leaving the UK, my kids have settled amazing, my 6 year old is loving school, made some lovely friends and she can't belive that no one is horrible, i have found that kids here are much more polite and friendly than at home to other children and adults. Her school is great, they are so laid back, have lessons outside, eat outside, get to wear shorts and t-shirt as their uniform and in the 8 weeks since we have been here i can count on one hand how many times it has rained!!!! the weather is fantastic.

My youngest daughter is 4, she has settled brilliant at kindergarten, and her confidence has grown brilliantly since we arrived here. We have something to do every night of the week here, the parks are fantastic for the kids, all with bbq's, we have 4 major theme parks 10 mins from our house, the beach is 10 mins away their is no way you can ever be bored.

My hubby is a carpenter and there are loads of jobs for all trades, he had his pick of work, i am at college and really enjoying it, thought it was time i actually got myself a trade!

I can honestly say with hand on heart it is the best thing we could ever have done moving here, we have no regrets and their is nothing i don't like about living here, apart from the insects and of course the way the australians drive, which is quite frightening!!! There is nothing i miss about home apart from decent food and family.

The cost of living i have found is more or less the same as the uk, some things are cheaper and some more expensive, groceries are much the same prices, petrol is a lot cheaper, i fill the car for half the price that i paid at home, rent is cheaper, and we have no council tax as the landlord has to pay tax and rates. Dental and medical fees are expensive as you have to pay every time you see someone, not like NHS. Here you pay to see a doctor (around $45) then you pay for the prescription on top of that. The Gold Coast is spotlessly clean, you never see pot holes in the road or litter on the streets, they take so much care of their country. It's facinating to pick up the newspaper and the top stories are 2 cars got broken into, at home i would pick up the paper to read how many had been stabbed, beat up and murdered, it's just not like that here. You can walk along the beach at midnight here, a female on her own and actually feel safe, you see females out power walking on their own all the time at night, it's a great feeling to feel safe, i'm not saying it never happens here, but no where in the same league as the uk.

The most important thing is i know my kids are going to have the best life i could ever offer living in Australia, i have seen a massive change in them since coming here, they are up in the morning around 6, as the sun is shining, they hardly ever moan they way they did at home, they are happier, and they are getting outside to play every day in the sun.

Sure i have some homesick days, but then i think of what i'm actually missing, not the place but the people, i would never go back. I know i will have some tough times here too until we settle and actually think of Australia as our home, but i also know its going to be worth it, for my kids sake.

For anyone that is having doubts all i can say is go for it, it may work or it may not for you, but at least at the end of the day you have tried it, i think the thing that doesn't work for most people is the homesickness for family, and it is hard, but you cope and it gets easier. Especially when you are waking up every morning in a beautiful country with the sun shining and thinking how lucky you are to be there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lisa

Originally Posted by paulf

Yep, very good thread,
But what part of the GC is the question?
I have been searching lots of areas, just counted out Nerang.

Originally Posted by Slater

Hey Nerang ain't bad, plenty of nightime entertainment, loud music and squealing tyres, it's called the HOONS! and I mean all night.

Slater

Originally Posted by cinderella

So Nerang is not your favourite place then!!!